Monday, March 22, 2010

Runners 7, Rain 0 at the Cody Climb

During a lull between spring showers, Keith Gates clambered up and down the Cody Escarpment on an eight-kilometer course through Tallahassee's Southwood community, winning the inaugural Cody Climb 8K run in 33:36. Almost 700 meters back, Dana Stetson was the runner-up and top master with a time of 36:40, while Jacque Myers finished as top woman and fastest woman master, fourth overall in 49:11.

The race originated from my whining about the lack of eight kilometer events on the Tallahassee road racing schedule. Actually, I'm not so concerned with the dearth of 8K races as I am with the proliferation of 5K events--for example, there were no less than three 5K runs in Tallahassee and the surrounding area the weekend of the Cody Climb. Be a little more creative, folks! Run a tenth of a marathon, or a dolichos, or fifty furlongs.

Or eight kilometers.

When I was told basically to put up or shut up, I decided to put together a minimal eight-kilometer run. There would be a course. It would be accurate. It would be marked. The run would be timed. But there wouldn't be T-shirts, aid stations, a one-mile fun run, bib numbers, or Grand Prix points. There wouldn't be any traffic control, either, so I looked for a course that used one of Tallahassee's paved, multi-use trails. The loop in Southwood seemed to fit the bill. I created an online notice, listed the event on the Gulf Winds Track Club calendar, and planned for, oh, possibly dozens of runners to show up.

At racetime on Sunday morning, attendance was somewhat lower than hoped. However, when the starting gun went off the runners at least outnumbered the race staff (five). Keith Gates went immediately into the lead and stayed there. Chasing Gates, Dana Stetson and Brian Davis reached the first kilometer together, but Stetson moved ahead as the course started ascending the Cody Scarp. Jerry Chesnutt and Jacque Myers likewise reached the one kilometer mark together, with Chris Dirmann not far behind, and Paula Kiger in pursuit.

Post-race comments and observations included:
  • "Orange Avenue sucks!"

  • "I've been scarped!" (Jerry Chesnutt)

  • "This hurt worse than the Springtime 10K course." (Jacque Myers)

  • "I liked your little miles." (Dana Stetson, on the use of kilometer marks rather than miles)

  • "Your post-race article has to be better than the pre-race story." (Don't bet on it)

But as difficult as the hilly course may have been, there was a general feeling of exhilaration among the runners at having completed the run. This may be a sign that "Flat and Fast" is not necessarily what runners are looking for in a race course. Or it may just be the same principle behind the old punchline, "...because it feels so good when I stop."


Shortly after the finishers had assembled for a group photo, the rain started, driving everyone to their cars. The 2010 Cody Climb was over. I'm not saying that there will be a 2011 Cody Climb, but I can't guarantee that there won't be. Twelve months may not be enough time for me to come to my senses.

Top Seven Finishers, 2010 Cody Climb 8K

Place Name                        S Age City             St Time    Pace
===== =========================== = === ================ == ======= =====
   1. Keith Gates                 M  28 Tallahassee      FL   33:36  4:12
   2. Dana Stetson                M  53 Tallahassee      FL   36:40  4:35
   3. Brian Davis                 M  32 Tallahassee      FL   38:03  4:45
   4. Jerry Chesnutt              M  59 Tallahassee      FL   47:31  5:56
   5. Jacque Myers                F  53 Tallahassee      FL   49:11  6:09
   6. Chris Dirmann               M  39 Tallahassee      FL   50:52  6:21
   7. Paula Kiger                 F  45 Tallahassee      FL   62:52  7:51

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Posted by Herb Wills at 11:55 PM
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6 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 23, 2010 at 1:15 AM

    YES!!!!! A 7:51 pace!!!!! Oh ... per kilometer not per mile? Crap. Let's go for as many runners as K's next year -- 8! Don't give up, Herb. I agree with you -- it's not always about flat and fast (or with me flat and a little faster than super-slow). And I really appreciate folks hanging around for me to bring up the rear. Don't know where I lost the law enforcement escort but I managed to find my way back to Herb Wills Way by following the bright orange dots!

    ReplyDelete
  2. TallahasseeTrailsMarch 23, 2010 at 5:26 AM

    During the "big" Belle View Mile years (the 80s), I always wished for an Uphill Mile. Failing that, perhaps run back up the hill right after finishing the descent. See if whoever wins the 1M split can hang. Something along the lines of a king of the mountain after getting softened up by the downhill pounding.
    Either option - Runners 0, Uphill 1.

    Note: My CAPTCHA is "cyzarse." Is that a Britishism?

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 23, 2010 at 7:38 AM

    I'm new at this so I may lack the historical knowledge, but I'm thinking that this may be the first race in which all finishers won their respective age class?
    Awesome, easy to follow course. It can only get bigger!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JudyMarch 30, 2010 at 1:41 PM

    This is fabulous, Herb! First time I've had a chance to read it. I also clicked on the "whining" hyperlink & read the pre-race story...good thing I scrolled all the way down & read your comment because I was ready to sock it to ya with the 10MC/5M Race in December! There is one little bit of fiction in this article, though: You never would've asked, "How far is 8K?" You're too mathematically minded to EVER do that!!!
    judy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Herb WillsApril 12, 2010 at 2:29 PM

    Does anyone have preferences as to a 2011 date and time? I don't see any problem with keeping the first-Sunday-of-spring date, but maybe we should move the starting time to mid-afternoon.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMarch 4, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    I like the first Sunday of Spring, but would prefer to keep the race in the morning hours.

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